Labeling machine



March -l3, 1951 J. MAGNUSSON 2,545,292

' LABELING MACHINE Filed Sept. 15, 1945' j v 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 d'MQL-mm ATTORNEY March 13, 1951 J, MAGNUSSON 2,545,292

' LABELING MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 c/ INVENTOR 058M 7d nusson BY J a. and CM ATTORNEY March 13, 1951 J. MAGNUSSON LABELING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 15, 1945 dose bk Magi/7055M. NJHM ATTORNEY R q\\\\\\\\\\ m E m WU wmm B n l: 8m r |I m Ii. III II '11-: I! o o O A Q GW &\

March 13, 1951 J. MAGNUSSON 2,545,292

LABELING MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Jo se b J gnu 5501 March 13, 1951 J. MAGNUSSON LABELING MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR.

266 BYJOSC bA Magnufior 9.5% Qwmm flrroz/veY Filed Sept. 13; 1945 9- Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR. BYQJOJQPA Ma fnus .son

a .swn, (MM.

Patented Mar. 13, 1951 UNITED. STATES. PATENT OFFICE LABELING MACHINE o ep Me mi son .w om ass. as r Pneumatic Scale Corporatipn, Limited,.Quincy; Mass a corporation of Massachusetts.-

Applicationseptember 13, 1945} Serial No; 61'5973 6 Claims. (Cl. era-55 Ihisv invention relates to. a:labeling.,:machine.

The,v object of; the. invention .iSi toprovidea labelingmachine with novel-and improved labelw ing mechanism whereinthe-labelsare withdrawn from i a stack). thereof Y and handled. during the. subsequent label; applying operation in a novel. and-efiicient. manner, and-wherein provision is. also made fr pneumatical1y; controlling; the .opg eration of the labeling mechanism in a noyel and efiicient manner.

With this general 1 object in view and .suchothers as may hereinafterrappear, the invention consists in the labeling machine and in. the various structures; arrangements, and. combinations of parts hereinafter described; and particularlydefined-in ,thetclaim s; at the. end; of 1 this specifi cation..-

Referringznowzto' thedrawings the present invention:iszillustrated1as embodied ina labeling containerstli are carried inspacedrelation for registration'twith thezpresent labeling. mechanism. The'conveyerrl flxmayandpreferably. will comprise thia intermittently: operated conveyer illustrated and describedin thesU: SL patentto Everett; No. 2,245,659; issuedJunei 17,- 1941, andwhich may be arranged tofrun' intimed'irelation toithe'operati'on upper: chaim 16:: provided with. a' plurality" of presserupads .-l fl-ii'en'gaging the tops-of the contain- In the drawings; illustrating the preferred. em: 7

bodiment of 'the inventionyFig; 1 is a;-.plan view f a; labeling ma n m od n t e. res

t om de at p l: o ontr l 1 11?" anism with the Darts-shown in their normal op;- er-ating position; Fig.j3.is.-a detail-view in side ele vation of-.,-. apneumatically-operated :control dee viceof the machineQshown in Fig. 1 ;"Fig 4 is a side, elevation of the ,-labelingmachine-.as. viewed from the leftof Fig. 1;. Fig.5 is a similar view-as seen'from the right .ot-Fig. 1; Fig.6 isan outline- View diagrammatically; illustrating the ;.connections to the pneumaticallyoperated. devices Fig. 7 is a-cross secti0nal; view taken on the line 1-4.. of Fig. 8 illustrating the intermittent driving. mechanism for rotating the. label, carrying and applying pads; Fig.- 8 is across section taken on the.line.B.8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is an enlarged side. elevation as viewedwfron the-rightin Fig, 1 withsome" of the'parts removed and others incross. section. and showing a label pad extended and in engagement with a 'labelto be withdrawn from the magazine; Fig. 10 is a view of the label maga; zine and. associated mechanism as viewed from the-opposite-side-oftFig. 9; Figs-11 and 12 area enlargedfront and side elevations respectively of. a portion of thelabel pad and; associated grim.

ing. mechanism. with a ..portion. .of.-c 011ar .266;

broken, away-inf Fig.- 12;to expose anzend portion ofithe-flabeling .apparatusvfor the application of successivealabelsi to. successive containers. As shown: im-said Epatentf and as illustrated herein, sea-Fig.4 thee conveyer includes a cooperating ers& to :1: firmly? Hold the :latter: in registered positionisduring the-application 'of labelsl: As. indiparatu'sicomprises a plurality: of; hereinshown as.

three,- suction headsfor pads mounted upon the outerrends.of'iradially extended arms'22 oartended :position shown in Fig. 5 .is reciprocated to engage and'withdr-aw the lowermost label 25. from astackrZBthereof supported. in .a magazine 28. Thespider'is'. then rotated 120 degrees to carry the suctiontpad and'label past the adhesive applyingi mechanism; indicatedxrgenerally: at and p which" is arranged toprovide a film of adhesive on'the label held by'the'suction'pad; The spider is then again: movedu120 degreesto present the padat'the-"label applyingstati'on indicated generally at 3! where the sucftion pad' isagain reciprocated to afiix thelabel tothe container, thesuction being released prion t othe retracting Asindicated in-Fig.. 1', the label thus is merely tackedicn,adhering-to-the container of.rolle.rf238; Figs. .13 .and 14 are viewsin 'difier:

ent positions of operation of the-intermittently operated label pad. extending and withdrawing cam. and showing various... 'DOIISS arrangedto be.

opened and .closed.to' admit .orcut. off air to the. label-pads}. Fig. 15 is..a. 'plan view, partly. insec tion of controlmechanism; andlFig 16 fis'a side. elevation of thesame similar to 'Fig.; 2 ;butwith; the parts shown in a diiterent' positiomof'bpera-i t I I inan area adjacent theplane of tangency sufiicient tohold the label-in position for a subsequent. wiping or pressing operation by pressing.

mechanism. at the. station indicated generallyat 32, andsuch mechanism operates to press the adhesive coated .label into .firin engagement with the container.

Referring now to Fi'gfs. {l,' 7,"8 and Ill/"provision is made for intermittently rotating "the. spider 2 to' 'presentirthe suctio'n'j padtZUf'td the different stationsof operation through connections'fro'm catedgenerally-inFig Sthe present labeling ap-- 3 the main driving shaft 34 of the labeling machine. As herein shown, the spider 24 is keyed to a shaft 36 rotatably supported in brackets 38, 46 mounted on the platform 42 of the machine frame. The spider 24 is provided with a cylindrical flange 44 which is interiorly bored to snugly receive the outer periphery of a disc cam member 46 loosely mounted on the shaft 36 and arranged to be rocked back and forth through 120. As best shown in Fig. the cam member 46 is connected to the spider 24 to effect intermittent advancement thereof through 120 during each cycle of operation by a spring held driving pawl 56 pivotally connected to a member 52 attached to the back of the cam disc 46. During each cycle of operation, the pawl 56 is arranged to engage oneof three notches 54 cut 120 apart in the overlapping flange 44 of the spider 24 so that when the disc is rocked in one direction, the pawl will engage and fall into a notch 54 and when the disc is rocked in the opposite direction the spider 24 and its suction pads 26 will be advanced 120. In order to lock the spider 24 during the return stroke of the driving pawl 56, a spring pressed pawl 56 pivotally mounted at 58 in a bracket 66 is arranged to engage a notch 54, as shown in Fig. 7. Provision is'also made for definitely limiting the forward stroke to 120 to insure accurate registration of the suction pads with the coop crating mechanisms, and as herein shown, a second holding pawl 62 pivotally mounted at 64 in a bracket 65 is arranged to drop into a notch 54 at the end 'of the advancing stroke of the-driving pawl 56. 'An extension of the pawl 62 has acam surface 66 arranged to be engaged by a corresponding surface 68 of the driving pawl 56 to lift the holding pawl 62' out of itsv notch at the end of the return stroke and to hold it out during the start of the advancing stroke; Provision is also made forfrictionally holding the shaft 36 to'prevent over-riding thereof, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, a brake drum'lO is provided on the shaft 36 adjacent the bearing bracket 46 which is arranged to be engaged by an adjustable friction band I2.

- 'As shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the cam disc 46 is connectedby bolts 14 to a' radial flange I6 on a gear segment I8 which latter is rockingly mounted on an elongated stationary sleeve 86 supported in the bracket 36. The gear segment 56' is in mesh with an internal gear segment 82 pivotally mounted on a stud 84 fast in the bracket 38. The internal gear segment 62 is arranged to be rocked back and forth through an arc of about 60 by a cam 66 fast on the main shaft 34 and As above stated, the suction pads 26 are mounted upon radial arms 22 carried by the spider 24 and, as herein shown, the arms 22 are arranged to be reciprocated at the label withdrawing and applying stations during the reverse rotation of the cam disc 46. As shown in Fig. 9, each radially extended arm 22 is provided with a roller I66 adjustably secured thereto. and arranged to cooperate with a camgroove I62 formed in the oscillating cam disc46. During the advancing stroke of the driving pawl 56, the cam stations.

arm 22.

4 and spider are moved as a unit through from the position shown in Fig. 13 to the position shown in Fig. 14 during which time the arms 22 and pads 26 are in their retracted positions. The cam disc 46 is then rotated 120 in the opposite direction while the spider remains stationary and during such return stroke of the cam disc, the cam groove I62 effects extension and retraction of the spider arms 22 and their suction pads 26 at the label withdrawing and label applying Fig. 9 illustrates the mechanism at its halfway point with the arms 22 extended at the two stations as described, the remaining arm being retained in its'retracted position, as shown. A full return stroke of the cam disc 46 disposes the parts in their original position as shown in Fig. 13 at the start of a new cycle of operation.

The label magazine 28 is provided with a stack of labels from which successive lowermost labels are withdrawn by successive suction pads 26,

each 'pad pneumatically engaging and pulling downwardly on'the 'forward end of the lowermost label, the remainder of the label being drawn oif the bottom of the stack and pneumatically engaged by the pad as the latter is moved to the next station of operation, as more fully illustrated ad described in Patent No. 2,494,186 iss'uedilanuary 10, 1950, to'which reference may be made.

As herein shown, each suction pad 26 is mounted'on a hollow head I96 adjustably secured to the end 'of itsTeciprocating arm 22. The' s'uction openings I94, 196 communicate with an air'chamber- 266 formed in the head I63 which connects with apassag'eway'262 formed in the Thepas'sageway 262 extends at right angles, as best shown in Fig. 9, through one side of the reciprocating arm 22 and into communication with an elongated port 264 formed in a control casing 266 attached to the spider 24. The port 264 is of a length such as to permit sliding connection of the passageway 262 therewith during the extension and retraction of the arm 22. The po'rt 264 is connected by a passageway 268 to a chamber 2I6 formed in a pneumatically operated control unit 2I2, to be hereinafter described, and a passageway 2I4 connects the chamber M6 to a rotary valve unit 2I6 having two radial passageways 2I8, 226 one of which communicates with the passageway 254 and the other with a port 222, see Fig. 8, which extends through the control casing 266 and through the spider 24. Each port 2221 is arranged to open into anarcuate chamber 224 formed in the face of the cam member 46, and, during the relative movement of the cam and spider 24, the ports are opened and closed to admit or cut off the air to the suction pad 2 6 as will be hereinafter more fully described. The chamber 224 is connected bya passageway 226 to an annular chamber 226 which in turn is connected by a passageway 226 extending longitudinally through the stationary sleeve 86v and then at right angles thereto to communicate with a passageway 232 extending through the frame 68, as shown in Fig. 7. The passageway 232 is connected by a pipe 234 to a suction pump unit 236, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 6.

As above stated, during the advancement of the padandits label from the withdrawing stationto the next station ,the pad passes the adhesive applying mechanism 3.6.during which time the label is brought into engagement with an adhe'sive. applying roller 238'normally disposed in thepath thereof to apply a filmof adhesive to the label As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4,"the' adhesive applying roller 238 is carried by an arm 248 faston a shaft 242 journaled in a bracket 244 attached to the frame member 38. Provision is made for rocking the roller 238 into and out of engagement with an adhesive supply roll 243 during each cycle of operation, and as herein shown, the shaft 242 is provided with a second arm 248 connected by a link 258 to an arm 252 fast on'a shaft 254 journaled in the bracket 244, the link 258 being pivotally connected to the arm 248 and arranged to slide through an opening in a swivel 251 carried by the arm 252, and a spring 253 coiled about the link 25!) is interposed between the swivel 25| and the arm 248 to provide a resilient connection. The arm 252 is provided with a roller 256 arranged to cooperate with a three point cam 258 adjustably secured to a cam disc 26G fast on the shaft 36, see Fig. 8. A spring 262 is provided to urge the roller 256 into engagement with its cam. Thus, in operation, during each intermittent movement of the spider 24 to advance the shaft 33 the adhesive applying roller 238 is brought into engagement with the supply roll 248, and returned into position to apply a film of adhesive to the label as the pad is moved past the same.

Through the provision of the spring connection associated with the link 250, the adhesive applying roller 238 is arranged to be yieldingly pressed against the label pad. In order to guide the roller 238 with relation to the label so as to maintain a substantially uniform pressure and even distribution of the adhesive on the label, the roller shaft 264 is provided with a metal collar 256 arranged to engage a rail 288 (Fig. mounted on and movable with the rocking cam disc 48. As best shown in Fig. 10, the rail 288 is carried by parallel links 2'18, 272 pivotally mounted in brackets 214, 216 respectively, attached to the back of the cam member, and, the rail is disposed to travel in parallel relation to successive suction pads 28 as they are intermittently moved past the adhesive applying device. A spring 218 is provided to urge the rail outwardly, and, in operation, when the cam disc is intermittently moved past the adhesive applying device the collar 286 engages the beveled front end 238 of the rail and presses it down until the roller 238 engages the label carried by the pad. In order to prevent displacement of the label when engaged by the adhesive applying roller 238, a pair of spring clamping fingers 282 are provided which are arranged to engage the forward edge of the label and hold it in place on the suction pad.

As shown enlarged in Figs. 11 and 12 the clampin fingers are attached to a square rod 284 extended from a block 288 adjustably mounted on the rail 268. The clamping fingers are adjusted so that when the guide collar 266 engages the rail 268 to press it down as described, the fingers engage the edge of the label as shown in Fig. 12, and, upon continued movement of the pad the adhesive roller passes over the fingers and the label. At the end of the advancing stroke of the cam disc 46, the rail together with the clamping fingers are rocked up away from the pad by the spring 218, and, upon rotation of the disc in the opposite direction the rail unit is returned into parallel position witha succeeding suction pad. On the return stroke the roller 238 is rocked out of the Way to avoid the rail as shown in Fig. 9.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 4, the supply roll 246 is rotatably supported above a supply tank 298 and is arranged to cooperate with a spreader anther '6, roll 2 9-2 which is rotated from a driving shaft 2 94 of the labeling machine by a chain and sprocket connection 296, the rollers 246 and 292 being connected by gears 298, 308. Adhesive is supplied to the rollers through a pipe 392 by a continuously circulating supply system including a pump 384 which is driven through cooperating gears 356, 338, as best shown in Fig. l. A uniform film of adhesive may be maintained on the supply roller 248 by adjustment of the latter with relation to the roller 292 through mechanism indicated generally at 3"]. As herein shown, the roller 246 is carried by one arm of a two-armed lever 3| l pivotally mounted at 3l3, the second arm being connected by a link 3! l which extends through an opening in a bar 319 attached to the frame. The outer end of the link is threaded and provided with an adjusting nut 32 I, and a spring 323 coiled about the link is interposed between a collar 325 fast on the link and the bar 3H3. The spring 323 is arranged to urge the roller 2% toward the roller 292 and rotation of the nut 32! effects adjustment of the spacing between the rollers to provide a uniform film of adhesive. When the spider is moved to present the suction pad and label to a container E2 on the conveyor I 0, the arm 22 is reciprocated as above described to apply the label to the container. As best illustrated in Fig. 9, in which the pad is shown in its maximum outward position in engagement with the container [2, the oscillating cam member 48 is in its half-way position on its return stroke traveling in a clockwise direction. In such position it will be observed that the end of the arcuate chamber 224 has passed beyond theport 222 communicating with the pad in engagement with the container and that the port is in alignment with a vent port 3i2 (Fig. 15) which is open to the atmosphere through a channel 3M thus relieving the label on the pad to permit it to adhere to the container. The label thus applied is only loosely attached, adhering to the container merely at its contact with the container. Upon advancement of the container upon the intermittently movable conveyor 58, as shown in Fig. l, the labeling operation is completed at the label pressing or wiping station 32 which operates to firmly press the label on the container. The label wiping mechanism may be of any usual or preferred form herein illustrated as comprising a reciprocable member 348 shaped to conform to the contour of the container.

As illustrated in Figs. 9, l3 and 14 in order to cause the pad to press against the container with a yielding pressure during the applying operation, a portion 3I8 of the inner wall of the cam I82, which is disposed to urge the arm 22 outwardly at the applying station, is arranged to be movable with respect to the remainder of this wall. As herein shown, the portion 313 comprises an arcuate member conforming to the contour of the said wall and is pivotally mounted on a stud 328 supported in the cam disc 45. The stud 320 is also provided with an arm 322 (Fig. 10) to which a spring 324 is connected and arranged to urge the cam piece 3l8 into operative position as determined by an adjustable stop :15 made'mr controlling the operation of themachineto prevent;;the3withdrawal= -ofa label fromthe magazine 28 intheevent that no container is presenton theconveyerlfl'in a position preceding the applying station. which container would normallyarrive at the label applying station at the-same time; as its respective suction pad 26. This is accomplished through pneumatically controlled devices actuated'bya-container controlled valve indicated generally at 336,:the control for which is disposed in the path of the containers l2 onthe conveyer 16, the pneumati cally controlled devices operating to rock oneof the rotary valve units 2 l6 -to-move the ports 218 and 226 out of alignment with the ports 2 l4 and 222 respectively'and thus cut off the vacuum to the associated suction pad.- As best shown-in Figs. 8, and- 16, eachrotary valve-unit 2i6 includes a stem 332 having an arm-334 fast-on the outer end thereof. The arm'334is provided with a roller 336' arranged to be engaged by either one or the other of two movablecams 338 and 346 arranged in the path of said roller when the suction pad is disposed in label withdrawing position. As herein shown, the 'cam sections 338, 346 are attached to the ends of racks 342, 344 respectively whichare slidingly' mounted in a bracket 346 and arranged to: mesh with opposite sides of a gear 348 rotatably mounted therebetween, so that in operation, when one rack is moved in one direction the other rack is moved in the opposite direction. As best shown in Fig. 15, the rack 344 is connected to one arm 356 of a bell crank pivoted at 352, the other arm 354 being connected to a piston 356 of a pneumatically operated control unit indicated generally at 358. The piston 356 is slidingly fitted in a vacuum chamber 366 formed in the cylinder or outer casing 362 of the unit. The piston 356 is urged in one direction, to the left viewing Fig. 15, by a vacuum connection, and, a spring 364 is provided to urge the piston outwardly, to the right viewing Fig. 15 when the vacuum is cut off.

As herein shown, a pipe 365 connects the chamber 366 to the container controlled valve 336, and, a pipe 368 connects the valve to the suction creating unit 236. As illustrated in Fig. 1 the container controlled valve 336 is provided with a rod 316 arranged to be moved to present a port opening into and out of alignment with the pipes 365 and 368. The valve rod 316 is connected by a link 31-4 to one arm 376 of a'two-armed lever pivotally mounted at 378. The second arm of the twoarmed lever forms one of a pair of parallel arms 386 which carry a plate 382 arranged to be engaged by the containers as they are carried past the same. A spring 384 connected to the arm 316 is arranged to move the valve rod 316 in a direction to close the valve when a container is missing from the conveyer. Under normal operating conditions, the valve rod is held in its open position by the pressure of the containers against the plate 382 through the connections described. Thus, in normal operation, the piston member 356 is held in the position shown in Fig. 15 by the vacuum connection against the resistance of the coil spring 364, in which position the cam sections 338, 346 are disposed as shown in Fig. 15 to permit the rotary valve unit to remain open and thus permit a label to be withdrawn.

In the event no container is present on the conveyer, the vacuum line to the chamber 366 is cut off thereby permitting the coil spring 364 to move the piston member to the right viewing Fig. 15 and thus dispose the cam sections 338, 346 in a position opposite to that shown in Fig. 15, that is withthesection338 extended and the section 346 withdrawn. When the sections arethusy-positioned at the time the'spider 24 is rotated to bring the suction pad 26.- into label withdrawing: position, the roller 336 will engagethe camsection 338 and thus efiectrocking of the'rotary valve unit 2l6 in a clockwise direction to cut ofi the vacuum to the suction pad 26 and thusprevent withdrawal of a label, The valve unit 2l6 thus closed will remain in its closed position during its movement with the spider until it again arrives at the withdrawing station, and,- assuming that a container is present on the conveyer at this time, the cam section'346 will be extendedinto operative position to engage the roller 336'to eifect rocking of the rotary valve in a counter-clockwise direction to open the valve. 1 As shown in Fig: 16, the arm 334 ofthe rotary valve unit is provided with stop screws 385 to limit the movement of the valve in either direction, and is also provided with a dead center spring 36? arranged to hold the valve in the position in which it is rotated until again acted upon by either of the cam sections 338, 346.

Provision is also made for rendering the adhesive applying device inoperative in the-event that a label is not withdrawn from the magazineas above described, that is, where the valve unit 2l6 remains in its closed position at the withdrawing station. In such event, a roller 386 (Fig. 15) connected to the end of the pneumatically operated control unit 2l2, which may and preferably will be similar in construction to the control unit 358, is extended to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 15 by the coil spring 388 by reason of the vacuum being discontinued in the chamber 2|6 when the rotary unit H6 is in its closed position. When the roller 386 is in its extended position it is arranged to engage a surface 366 of a bell crank 392 pivoted at 394 as the roller passes thereby to move the bell crank in a counterclockwise direction and thus present a stop arm 396 in the path of the adhesive applying roller shaft 264 as shown in full lines in Fig. 16. Thus, in operation, when the valve 216 is in its closed position as the suction pad unit 266 is intermittently moved from the label withdrawing position and past the adhesive applying device, the roller 238 is held in its inoperative position. Thereafter, a subsequent suction pad unit 26, provided with a label, and having the roller 386 of its control unit M2 in its vretracted position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 15, will effect unlocking of the adhesive applying roller 238 by engagement of the roller 386 with a surface 398 formed on an arm 466 pivotally carried by the bell crank 362 and which is provided with a spring 462 arranged to hold the arm against a stop pin 464 fast in the bell crank. Upon engagement of the roller 386 with the arm 466, the bell crank is rocked in a clockwise direction to move the stop arm 336 to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 out of the path of the adhesive applying roller shaft 264. As herein shown, the pivotal connection 394 of the bell crank includes a coil spring 466 arranged to frictionally hold the bell crank in the position to which it is moved and stops, not shown, may be provided to limit the movement of the bell crank in either direction. The yieldably mounting of the arm 466 permits an overthrow thereof, the stops for the bell crank limiting the movement of the latter.

Provision is also made in the present apparatus for rendering the adhesive applying device inoperative in the event that the suction pad 26 fails to withdraw a label from the magazine' even though a bottle is presenton the conveyer and after the valve unit?! 6 has been normally opened by the movable cam. section 340 at the withdrawing station. Failure of the pad to withdraw a iabeimay be caused by a depletion of the labels in the magazine or through mechanical failure.

When'a label i missing from the pad 20 after withdrawal from engagement with the label magazine, atmospheric air entering the pad reduces the vacuum inthe system to such an extent that the spring 388 is permitted to eifect outward movement of th e roll er, 3ll6 so,,t,hat upon subsequent movement' of the pad fromthe withdrawing station the "roller 336 will'engage thev surface 390 of the bell crank 392 to present thejstoparm 396 into the path of the adhesive applying roller, as above described and thus preventthe application of adhesive to the pad.

Since it is not desirable to continue the reduced vacuum in the system upon such failure to Withdraw a label, provision is also made for closing the rotary valve unit 2I6 during such subsequent movement of the pad. As illustrated in Figs. 2' and 16, the valve arm 334 and roller 33$ arje'fin alignment with a centerline passing through the valve center and the center of the control unit 2 l2 when the valve 2H5 is in its open position. When the valve is in such position, and, the bell crank 392 has been rocked in a counterclockwise direction to lock the adhesive applying roller, the valve roller 336 is arranged to engage a cam surface 408 provided on the bell crank and the cam surface eifects clockwise movement of the arm 334 to close the valve. It will be observed that the yieldable connection 250 permits locking of the adhesive applying unit out of cooperative engagement with the operating cam 258.

Briefly, the operation of the machine is as follows: The containers l2 are carried along on the intermittently operated conveyer I9 in spaced relation for registration with the labeling mechanism, the intermittently rotated spider 24 being rotated in timed relation to the conveyer to apply labels to successive containers. In the normal operation of the machine, the valve 2|6 associated with the suction pad 2!! is open so that a label is withdrawn from the label magazine upon reciprocation of the pad at this station. However, in the event that a container is absent from the conveyer at a station preceding the labeling mechanism, and to which a label withdrawn could otherwise be applied, the control mechanism effects closing of the valve 216 so that no label is withdrawn. Thereafter, the pad is rotated past the adhesive applying mechanism 39 to normally apply a film of adhesive to the label. However, in the event that the valve ZIB is in its closed position because of the absence of a container on the conveyer, the pneumatically operated control unit 2l2 effects locking of the adhesive applying roller 238 in an inoperative position to thus prevent application of adhesive to the pad. In the event that the suction pad fails to withdraw a label when the valve 2H5 is in its open position, the control unit 252 likewise effects locking of the adhesive applying roller in inoperative position upon subsequent movement of the pad from label withdrawing position. Disposition of the mechanism in roller locking position will eifect closing of the valve 2H6 upon such subsequent movement. After a label is applied to a container, the latter. is moved to the wiping 1'0 station3j2 where the label is firmly pressed against theeont'aizier. 1

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described it will'be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims. V v

Having thusdescribed the'invention, what is claimed is: I

1. In: a labeling machine, in combination, a conveyer for supporting and conveying the container's to be labeled, labeling mechanism including a magazine for supporting a stack of labels, a movablesuction pad adapted to engage and' withdraw the lowermost label in the stack, a-rotary valve in a suction line connected to said suction pad and movable therewith,,ar 1 arm carried by said rotary valve, and container actiiated control means including a pair of shiftable cam pieces projectable into the pathof movemento'f the arm to engage said arm to effect opening of aid rotary v'alve by one of said cam pieces when a container is'present on said conveyer, or to effect closing of said rotary valve by the other of said cam pieces in the event that a container is not present on said' conveyer whereb'yto preventwithdrawalofa label from the magazine.

2. In a labeling machine, in combination, a conveyer for supporting and conveying the containers to be labeled, labeling mechanism including a magazine for supporting a stack of labels, a suction pad adapted to engage and Withdraw the lowermost label in the stack, a rotary valve in a suction line connected to said suction pad, an arm connected to said rotary valve, adhesive applying mechanism including a movable roller for applying a film of adhesive to the label while carried by'said suction pad, a locking arm arranged to be moved into locking engagement with said adhesive applying roller, container actuated control means including a pair of pneumatically operated shiftable cam pieces arranged to cooperate with said valve arm to efiect opening of said rotary valve when a container is present on said conveyer, or, to eifect closing of said rotary valve in the event that a container is not present on said conveyer, and means including a pneumatically operated movable roller actuated by the closing of said rotary valve and arranged to be moved into engagement with said locking arm to render the adhesive applying roller inoperative in the event that no label is present on said suction pad.

3. In a labeling machine, in combination, a conveyer supporting and conveying the containers to be labeled, labeling mechanism including a magazine for supporting a stack of labels, a suction pad adapted to engage and withdraw the lowermost label in the stack, a rotary valve associated with said suction pad in a suction line connected thereto, an adhesive applying roller for applying a film of adhesive to the label while carried by said suction pad, a locking arm arranged to be moved into locking engagement with arm having a portion arranged to engage said rotary valve arm to effect closing of the same when said locking arm is in its locking position.

4. In a labeling machine, a label supporting member adapted to be reciprocated into and out of engagement with a stationary container to apply the label thereto, and means for effectingreciprocation of said label supporting member including" a cam member having a portion adapted to yield upon engagementof the label supporting member with the container whereby to provide a yielding pressure during the label applying operation.

5. In a labeling machine, a label supporting pad adapted tozbe reciprocated into and out of engagement with a stationary container .to apply the label thereto, and means for effecting reciprocation of said pad including a cam having a pivotally and yieldingly mounted member form-- ing a portion of the cam, said pivotally mounted 'member being arranged tobe rocked ,with rela-r 6. In a labeling niachinefalabel supporting member adapted to be reciprocated into and out of engagement with a stationary container to apply a label thereto, and means for effecting reciprocation of said label supporting member including a cam having a yieldingly mounted member forming a portion of the cam, said last named member being arranged to yield with relation to the remainder of the cam upon engagement of the label supporting member with the container Wherebyto provide a yielding pressure during the label applying operation.

JOSEPH MAGNUSSON.

REFERENCES CITED The" following references are of record in the file of this-patent:

, UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Magnusson Jan. 10, 1950 

